Small-town, rural and lakefront living in Lenox
Set along the eastern edge of Madison County, Lenox is a rural town where rolling farmland, swathes of woodland and small hamlets meet the historic Old Erie Canal. Anchored by its central Village of Canastota , Lenox was once a bustling canal port, and today offers residents a blend of small-town, rural and lakeside living. "There are several hamlets and villages in town, but Canastota is the main hub—it's the kind of place where kids walk to school, people don't always lock their doors and a true Main Street features a candy store and ice cream parlor," says Chip Hodgkins , associate broker and owner of Hodgkins Homes Team at Hunt Real Estate ERA.
Located 25 miles east of Syracuse, Lenox extends from the Old Erie Canal in Canastota to the southern shores of Oneida Lake. According to the 2020 Census, nearly half of Lenox's 8,800 residents reside in Canastota, while generational farms, forested lands and a cluster of seasonal lakefront homes frame surrounding landscapes. Apart from its small-town pride and historic charm, Lenox's central location is another draw. "I've had buyers where one works at a hospital in Syracuse and the other works in Utica. They both have 20-minute drives, but in opposite directions," Hodgkins says.
Canal walks, hiking trails, golf courses and lakeside recreation
Canastota , the town's central hub, is bisected by the Old Erie Canal State Park, where a 36-mile trail tracing the historic canal draws hikers and bikers. The path is just one small section of the 750-mile Empire State Trail that runs the length of New York, extending from Manhattan to the Canadian border. Other green spaces around the Village include a skate park, a community pool and Canastota Recreation Park, which features ball fields and sports courts.
Outside the Village, dense woodlands give way to hiking trails like the Canastota Cazenovia State Trailway and green spaces like Oxbow Falls Park, where wooded paths lead to scenic views, a hidden waterfall and an 18-hole disc golf course. Additional trails await at the Great Swamp Conservancy, where paths weave through wetlands and open meadows brimming with wildflowers. In the winter, residents swap their hiking boots for cross-country skis, as the region receives heavy snowfall. Several golf courses are scattered around Lenox's vast lands, but the nearby Turning Stone Resort and Casino stands out as a popular destination with three public golf courses, an indoor sportsplex, salmon fishing, a hunting preserve and more.
Less than 10 miles north, the 51,000-acre Oneida Lake is a popular summertime destination, welcoming boaters, anglers and swimmers. Multiple marinas, campgrounds and green spaces dot its expansive shores. Just outside Lenox's town limits, Sylvan Beach stands out as one of the area’s most popular lakeside communities. "It's the Coney Island of Oneida Lake," Hodgkins says. "They have rollercoasters, merry-go-rounds, games and hotels."
Homes that span from the 19th to the 21st century
Many homes in Lenox date back to the 1800s and range from colonial-style and Greek Revival to duplexes and Eastlake-style homes, a genre of Queen Anne architecture. Lot sizes increase farther from the Village center, where 20th- and 21st-century split-levels, ramblers, Colonial Revivals and a handful of manufactured dwellings are the stylistic norm. Sales prices in town typically range from the low $100,000s to $300,000. Custom-built designs on the lake and secluded properties with acreage can sell for more, ranging from $300,000 to the upper $500,000s. Buildable land is also available, with plots ranging from $5,000 for a quarter-acre parcel up to $80,000 for 35 acres. Lenox garners a CAP Index Crime Score of 3 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
Local establishments and chain stores
A handful of establishments line Lake Road along the north side of town. Community staples like Flo's Diner, an old-school diner, attract breakfast crowds with hearty meals and 10-cent coffees. Farther south, historic brick buildings house and streetlights draped with flower baskets line Peterboro Street, Canastota's main drag. Local establishments range from small boutiques, a pharmacy and a taproom to offices and casual eateries. La Bamba MTZ is a crowd favorite known for its Mexican fare and homemade salsa. Down the road, ZEMS Ice Cream, Miniature Golf & Game Room is the go-to spot for cones, sundaes and afternoon outings.
Grocery stores like Aldi and Tops Friendly Markets line New York State Route 5. A short drive east leads residents to additional box stores, including Walmart Supercenter.
Lenox's hometown pride
Canastota is home to local landmarks like the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The museum began as a way for townspeople to honor two Canastota residents, Carmen Basilio and his nephew, Billy Backus, who both became world champions. Today, the museum draws fans and legends to its annual parade and induction ceremonies each June. "Every year, world-renowned boxers come to Canastota," Hodgkins says. "It's huge. In 2025, they had Sydney Sweeney as the parade's grand marshal." Down the street, the Canal Town Museum showcases Canastota's historical roots, and in 2025, the Village celebrated the bicentennial of the Old Erie Canal.
The Canastota Central School District
The Canastota Central School District earns an overall C-plus rating from Niche. Peterboro Street Elementary School is rated B and serves pre-kindergarten through first grade. Second through third graders can then move on to South Side Elementary, which scores a C. Other C-plus-rated schools include Roberts Street Middle for fourth through sixth grade and Canastota High School for seventh through 12th grade. The district is further supported by Connected Community Schools, an initiative dedicated to providing students with the resources and services needed to succeed academically, socially and emotionally.
Commutes around Madison County
Although the Village of Canastota is walkable, the overarching town of Lenox is car dependent. Downtown Syracuse and Syracuse Hancock International Airport are 25 miles west via Interstate 90, or the New York Thruway. New York State Route 5 also runs east-west, connecting residents to Oneida Health Hospital, 6 miles from Canastota.
